Crypto Bots Front-Run Hackers, Recover Millions: Who Decides Payback?
A recent exploit on Makina Finance saw 1,299 ETH (approximately $4.13 million) drained via a flash-loan and oracle manipulation. An MEV builder front-ran the hacker's transaction, redirecting funds to a builder-controlled address, preventing total loss for Makina's users. This incident highlights the increasing role of MEV bots and builders as a de facto emergency response system in crypto. Similar dynamics were observed during the 2023 Curve and Vyper exploit, where white hat hackers and MEV bots helped recover funds. However, this system concentrates rescue capacity within intermediaries, raising concerns about accountability. With MEV-Boost dominating Ethereum block production, the reliance on these entities raises questions about control and fairness in fund recovery.
Never miss a Web3 update
Join our Telegram channel to receive news in real-time, straight to your phone.